Merumeru getting knocked off (finally) opens a slot on my list and I think I'll join Jesse's "we need a new Bly" campaign...

1 ) Commander Bly Resculpt (rem. Helmet, more articulation...  Be cool if he had his Clone Wars funky hairstyle & Helmet ala TVC Fordo)

With Gree (2008), Bacara (2008), Cody (2009), and Neyo (2013) getting resculpts/upgrades, Bly does sort of stand as the last "odd man out" in need of an upgrade. 

Definitely not a jawa.

One google image search later (keywords = ghoul action figure):  Hillhurst Monsters

Because I love checking back on Hasbro to see how much they really listen to us.  Here are the results of the past three Fan Choice Polls and the current figure tallies from each (unless I forgot about a figure  ).

- 2006 Toy Fare Fan Choice Poll = 23 out of 25 made into figures; 92%
- 2009 Toy Fare Fan Choice Poll = 11 out of 30 made into figures; 37%
- 2011 Hasbro Fan Choice Poll = 5 out of 20 made into figures; 25%

Who’s left?  Glad you asked.  I’ve compiled the list of left-overs into one easy to reference/discuss list.  The # in parens is the polls they appeared.

Anakin Solo (2006)
Cane Adiss (2009)
Captain/Admiral Pellaeon (2009, 2011)
Captain/Admiral Piett (2011)
Cliegg Lars (2009, 2011)
Corde (2009)
Darth Caedus (2009)
Dash Rendar (2009)
Vintage-deco Death Squad Commander (2011)
Dorme (2009)
RotJ Emperor Palpatine w/throne) (2011)
Guri (2009, 2011)
Jaxxon (2009, 2011)
Joruus C’Baoth (2009, 2011)
Kittster and Wald (2009)
Mosep Bineed (2011)
RotS Nute Gunray (2011)
RotS Funeral Padme Amidala (2006)
Queen Apailana (2009)
Queen Jamilla (2009)
Sergeant Doallyn (2009, 2011)
Sim Aloo (2009, 2011)
Taym Dren-Garen (2009)
Tey How (2009)
Toryn Farr (2009, 2011)
Tzivvzt (2009, 2011)
Yak Face (2011)

So I had a chance to open up my Slave I last night.  On the topic of the spring...

I know the Clone Wars version had a gravity led action feature on the wings, but to me, with the sturdier spring, it looks like they were trying to undo the action feature for the collector release. 

The wings on my Slave I were clearly designed to 'click' into place.  When I twist the wings into 'flight mode' on my Slave I, they snap into place and stay there (for display on a wall).  If I click the wings the other way to release them, the spring returns them to 'landing mode' and holds them there (for display on a table).

Maybe it's the Hasbro-defender in me, but I'm going to see the sturdier spring as an effort to remove a kiddie action feature so it displays nicer.   


(I have no defense for the ****** legs on the Kmart AT-ST though  )

Just looking at my nephews, they moved into the video game era much earlier and left "toys" behind about that time too, for the most part.  The one exception to that is LEGOs, they still like, ask for, and "play" with those (they are 11 and 13 years old).  Action figures almost seem like an 8 and under thing these days (or 20 and over), so things have changed a lot.

My oldest boys just turned seven this summer.  They are being raised in a house where there are 1000s of action figures for them to see and want.  And do you know what they put on their birthday lists this year?  LEGO (Star Wars, Ninjago, Chima, Batman) and Nintendo DS/3DS games (Mario, LEGO, DK, etc).  They wanted (and received) 3DSs for Christmas last year because about half of their friends already had a DS/3DS (at age 5/6!).

Don't get me wrong, the boys have a nice little pile of star wars action figures they amassed from age 4-6, but these days when we get to the toy section, it's LEGO first, video games second, and then they'll let dad look at the Star Wars guys. 

I read a theory not that long ago that the biggest thing hurting Hasbro Star Wars toys with kids was LEGO Star Wars toys... looking at my kids, I'd say that's definitely something to consider alongside the rise of video games/ipads/etc for kids.  $10 for an action figure or $10-12 for a LEGO army-builder pack with four minifigs and a little vehicle/playset?

a pre-Carbon Freeze Han Solo and a Bespin escape Leia.

Yes, please.  And I wouldn't turn my nose up at a new post-Carbon Freeze Han either. 

is Mattel continuing the DC Unlimited and/or Batman Unlimited lines past this year?

I'm pretty sure I read that they are dead and some of the remaining stuff cancelled.  A few of the 'lost' figures (like Damian Robin) may end up in the DCIE subsciption.

It's kind of funny.  Just as Hasbro is making a push into the 6" scale with Star Wars, Mattel is taking the opposite with DC - killing Collector 6" at retail and replacing with a mass-market 4" collector line (DC Multiverse) and a 3.75" Batman line for kids.

the only new 6" scale stuff I saw really was the new "Total Heroes" line that was the main characters, and sort of an animated-ish style.

Yeah, I think they are hoping for some collector bites, but they look pretty "kid-friendly" to me.  They have nice articulation, but the exaggerated oversized weapons are the clue they've not for collectors (for instance, how Sinestro's weapon has the 'hook' at the bottom, indicating it goes with some sort of launcher).

Pretty much just the latest round of "Rescue Heroes" type of figures...

I got the "shipped in white mailer box" Slave I.  One corner is a bit stressed, but at least it doesn't have a giant shipping label stuck to the actual toy box.  Would have been nice to see them packed with an outer box, but I consider myself lucky at this point not to be among the no white mailer box, damaged box crowd.